Lock



J. PICKLES LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 4, 1960 INVENTOR.

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3,065,013 LOCK Joseph Pickles, Dearborn, Mich., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Lisle W. Menyimer, Rockford, Ill., trustee Filed lan. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 332 2 Claims. (Cl. 292-280) The present invention relates to improvements in a lock for an automobile door or the like and, more particularly, to a door lock of this type having improved means of a simple and reliable nature for locking a detent or holding member or unit of the lock in a position in which it latches a rotary or pivotally mounted bolt-latching member in a position to prevent opening of the door.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved automotive door lock which has positive blocking action in latching the detent or holding member or unit for the purpose mentioned above, as distinguished from so-called free-wheeling or overrunning types of lock; and in which the detent unit is pivotally mounted on a plate of a mounting support for movement parallel to said plate and at 90 to an integral ilange of the support, the locking provisions including a plate-like member pivoted on said flange for swinging movement parallel to the latter into and out of a position in which the side surface of the plate locking member intercepts unlatching movement of the detent unit, thereby preventing disengagement of the latter from door latching position.

A more specific object is to provide a lock of this character having various provisions for preventing damage thereto in the event the open door, in a locked condition of the lock, is slammed closed, and to automatically unlock the lock upon actuation of an inside operator member or handle.

A still further object is to provide an improved lock as described, in which the detent or holding unit referred to above is a two-part one, including a detent member and an operating member, both having a common pivot on the main plate of the mounting support of the lock. The detent member is engaged by a suitable type connecting means or linkage operated from the exterior of the door and, in the unlocked condition of the lock, is thus swung out of holding engagement with a toothed or abutment-carrying bolt-latching member pivoted on the same plate, with a conventional type of bolt rotating with the latching member, and with spring means urging the two-part detent unit to latching position. As explained above, the unit is locked against movement from this position by means of a plate-like member mounted on the flange of the support to swing in a plane transverse of the detent movement, and in accordance with the improvement, this locking plate prevents movement of the detent unit, in the locked condition of the lock, by interposing its side surface in the path of unlatching movement of the detent operating member.

ln further accordance with the invention, the detent member of the last named unit is independently swung to unlatching position, as by direct engagement with the detent member of an operator actuated by remote control from the inside of the door.

The foregoing as well as other objects will become more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein:

FIG. l is a view in side elevation of the improved lock, in the locked condition of the latter;

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section along line 2-2 of FIG. l, illustrating in solid and dotted lines, respective- 3,0550@ Patented Nov. 20, lQZ

ly, the position of a locking member or plate of the lockin locked and unlocked condition of the latter;

FlG. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. l of portions of the lock in the unlocked condition of the latter;

FG. 4 is a view in vertical section along line 4 4 of FIG. 5 is a side elevational view from around the right of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the lock as shown in FIG. l.

Although the improvements of the present invention are herein illustrated as applied to an automotive door lock of the rotary-bolt type, characterized by a freely rotatable la-tching bolt having equally spaced radial teeth adapted for meshing and locking engagement with a racktype keeper on the door frame, it is to be understood that the improvements of the invention are equally applicable to other types of lock, for example, characterized by a forked type of bolt mounted for oscillatory move ment on the lock support and spring urged to pivot out of a door locking position, in which the forked bolt engages a pin of the lock on a door frame, or some other kind of frame keeper unit. All of these types are old and well known in the art, and no particular invention is claimed in features known to be characteristic thereof.

The reference numeral 10 generally designates a suitable plate-like support for the lock structure, preferably in the form of a sheet metal stamping providing a flat main boltand detent-mounting plate 11 and an integral flat ilange l2 at 90 thereto. The support 10 is, in kno-wn manner, applied to the free swinging end of the door, as by means of screws or bolts applied through apertured embossments 13 of plate 1l., with this plate 11 llush with the door edge and the flange l2 brought around its inner side.

A conventional sort of bolt and latching unit, generally designated 14:-, is pivotally mounted on the plate 1l, this unit including a rotary bolt 15 on the outer side of plate ll and a rotary latching member t6 on the inner side of the plate, the bolt and latch member being mounted to rotate as a unit by a shaft ll'7 secured thereto and suitably journalled in the plate in a known manner. The bolt l5, as shown in FiGS. 4 and 5, is provided with radial locking teeth 18 spaced equally about its periphery, adapted for locking engagement with a striker or keeper unit, generally designated 19; and the latching member i6 is also of rotary-toothed character, including latch abutments or teeth 20 spaced equally about its periphery (FlGS. l, 3 and 4) and adapted to be latched against rotation by a holding or detent unit, generally designated by the reference numeral 21. lnsofar as the bolt and latching unit JA is concerned, the features thereof are conventional.

In accordance with the invention, the detent or holding unit 2l is pivotally mounted on p'ate l1 by means of a shaft or pin 2li suitably journalled in the plate in substantially spaced relation to the flange l2. Unit 2l is made up of a holding member or detent 2li having an arcuately contoured outer edge terminating in a detent abutment 25 adapted to seat against a latching abutment or tooth 20 of the latching member 16 of unit i4, as shown in FlG. l, or to be moved out of this latching position to an unlatched position shown in FIG. 3.

As illustrated in FIGS. l, 2 and 3, the detent 24 eX- tends flatwise parallel to the plate 11, and closely inwardly of the latter, but is offset abruptly at 26 in a direction at away from the plate, then is further offset 90 in the direction paralleling plate lll and toward llange 12 to provide an operating element or tongue 27. This tongue extends through a vertically elongated slot 28 in the tlange 12; and a coiled leaf spring 29, anchored on the pivot pin or shaft 23, extends above the offset 2d to normally urge the unit 2l toward the latching position of FlG. l.

Fihe second member of the detent unit .2l is an operating member designated Sill. It carries a 90 offset operating arm 3l adjacent its plate pivot at 23, the arm 3l terminating in a further, downwardly offset extension 32, which extension is adapted to be engaged and operated in a conventional manner by a suitable linkage or unit manipulated by a handle, push button or the like (not shown) from the exterior of the door to which the lock is mounted. To the left of pivot 2.3 (FlG. l) member 3l? extends ilatwise parallel to the support plate il, and has a shoulder portion 3d which passes beneath the offset 2d of detent 2d, so that clockwise movement of operating member Sil, as viewed in FiG. l, will cause shoulder 34 to elevate detent 24 to its position shown in FlG. 3, and thereby unlatch the latch member la of bolt and latch unit le.

Adjacent its outer end, the operating member Si? is offset 90 at 35 in the direction towards plate ll, and is then further offset in a direction parallel to the latter and toward flange 12 to provide a terminal extension 37. The extension 37 is formed to provide a tongue 3d which extends outwardly through a vertically elongated slot 3;@ in flange i2, and a downwardly extending locking shoulder itl of substantial vertical height located in inwardly spaced relation to the flange i2. it is the function of the locking provisions according to the invention (to be described) to prevent motion of the detent unit 2l, and 'more particularly its operating member 3l?, out of latching engagement with the latching unit 14, by interposing 'a blocking surface between the edge of locking shoulder il of the operating member and the slot 39 in flange l2 through which the tongue 3S .and shoulder d@ would normally pass upon actuation of operating member 3d in the unlatching direction.

The locking unit of the invention is generally designated 42. As best shown in FIGS. l and 2, it is of a very simple nature, comprising a generally flat plate 43 of irregular outline which is suitably pivoted at /l-i upon the flange l2, approximately midway of the height and width of the latter. This plate is automatically biased, as by means of a conventional over center spring device l5 indicated in FlG. 2, between a solid line locking position (FIG. 2) and an unlocking position shown in dotted lines. Adjacent its bottom, the plate 43 is provided with an arcuate camming surface de facing the plate ll, and a return linger 47 for operation in a more or less conventional way by a key-operated locking device 48. Thus, upon key-rotation of the device 4S in a counter'- clockwise direction (FIG. 2) it engages cam surface de to swing the locking plate d3 from the solid line, locking position to the dot-dash line, unlocking position, and upon clockwise rotation of device d3, it operates plate finger 47 to return the locking plate i3 to the solid line, locking position.

Furthermore, and in a conventional manner, the locking plate 43 may be operated by suitable linkage provisions (not Shown) from the usual inside door push button, enabling the lock to be placed in a locked or unlocked condition from the interior of the vehicle.

For the purpose of locking, the plate 43 is provided with an elongated notch d in its right-hand upper side edge, as viewed in FIG. 2, and above the plate pivot at de. There is thus provided on this edge a locking shoulder 5l which, when plate is in the operative, solid line position, is interposed across the bottom of the slot 39 which receives the outer extension 37 of operating member 3d, and through which slot the shoulder it? of that member normally passes outwardly when the detent unit 2l is pivoted clockwise (FIG. 3) to unlatching position. However, with the inner side surface of the locking shoulder 5l interposed between slot 39 and the outer edge of shoulder 40, such action is blocked, and the lock cannot be unlatched by manipulation of operating member 3f) from an outside operator handle or push button. The notch 5@ is of sutlicient height that it will accommodate, however, vertical movement therein of the tongue 3S, incident to the normal unlatching motion of toothed latching member lo (counterclockwise in FlG. l) as the bolt l rotates in assuming locking engagement with the keeper or striker device (FIG. 5).

Motion of the locking member is limited by engagement of an upper edge surface 53 thereof with flange lll, in the unlocked condition of the lock, and a lower edge surface 54 thereof with the flange, in the locked condition.

Provision is made to prevent the possibility of damage to the lock in the event that, with the door open, it is slammed shut while the locking plate 43 is in the solid line, locking position of FG. 2. To this end, the outer arm extremity 56 of locking plate 43, on which the stop edge 53 is formed, is shaped on its opposite edge surface to provide a cam edge 57. This cam edge, in the locked condition of the lock, projects over the path of upward movement of the tongue 27 of detent member 2d. Hence, as the bolt l5 inwardly engages the striker 19 (FIG. 5) and rotates clockwise as viewed in that ligure, the toothed latching member lo rotates therewith (counter/clockwise as viewed in FIG. l); and the tongue 27 cams locking plate 43 clockwise about its pivot 44, thus swinging its locking shoulder 5l downwardly and out of the path of movement of the shoulder itl on operating member, which thereupon passes through the slot as illustrated, while detent 24 is lifted out of latching relation with the bolt and unit 14. Thus, not only is provision made to prevent damage to the parts in the contingency referred to above, but also the lock will be automatically placed in the unlocked condition (dot-dash line of FIG. 2), rather than remaining locked as the door goes into latched position. Accordingly, it is unnecessary for the owner to key-unlock the door to obtain entry to the interior.

Provisions for unlatching the lock from the inside of the vehicle are shown best in FIG. 2. They include an inside operated lever 59 medially pivoted at et) on the liange l2. Lever S9 is adapted to be operated through a remote control linkage (not shown) from an inside door handle in an entirely conventional way, such linkage being pivotally connected at 61 to lever 59 above the pivot 6l), with a spring washer 62 at the pivot to take up looseness. The lever 59 is formed with a downwardly projecting actuating foot 63 which is receivable in an edge recess 64 of the locking plate 43. As thus disposed, the actuating foot 63 is. upon counterclockwise operation thereof through the linkage referred to, rst engageable with an inclined cam edge 65 formed on the upper arm extension 56 of the locking plate 43, thus to cam that plate clockwise about its pivot de to the dot-dash, unlocked position of the plate shown in FIG. 2. Further counterclockwise rotation of operating member 59 causes its foot 63 to engage from beneath the bottom of detent 24, thus to swing the latter to unlatching relation to the rotary latch member 16.

On the other hand, upon clockwise rotation of operating member 59 and its foot 63 against a projecting portion 67 of locking plate 43, the latter is cammed from the dotted line, unlocked position to the solid line locked position (FIG. 2) to bring the lock shoulder 51 across the path of movement of operating member shoulder de.

lf desired, the lock may be further equipped with a -child safety feature, for the purpose of preventing operation by a child of the inside door handle to unlatch the lock. In a simplified form such provision (as illustrated in FIG. 2) may take the form of a lever or arm 69 medially pivoted at 7d on the ange l2 of the support it). This arm as shown has its end projecting through an upwardly opening slot 7l in the plate 1l for manual operation; and the opposite end of arm 69 is formed to provide an upwardly opening forked extension 72. The forked extension 72 is adapted to straddle from beneath a pin, lug

or the like 72 on the top of inside operated lever 59, thus to prevent the lever 59 from moving in either direction by manipulation of the inside door handle. When arm 69 is operated counterclockwise about its pivot 70, the lever is released from this safety restraint.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings show the toothed rotary bolt 15 of the unit 14 as being conventionally mounted Within a quasi-cylindrical housing 75 xedly mounted on the outer surface of the support or mounting plate 11 on the door, with the lower portion of the bolt projecting beneath the open lower end of the housing. Unit 14 is journalled at 76 in the outer wall 77 of housing 75.

FIG. 5 shows in dot-dash line the essential elements of the keeper or striker unit 19, which is conventional in character. It includes an inclined toothed rack mem-ber 78 suitably mounted in a xed position on the door frame, to be meshingly engaged by the teeth 18 of rotary bolt 15 as the door is closed. The unit 19 also includes a non-metallic Wedge 79 mounted on the door frame, as by means of a bracket 80 and a pin 81 on the bracket along which the wedge 79 is resiliently urged `by a spring 3E. Wedge 79 frictionally engages the rounded top of housing 75 as the door is closed and latched, the action of the striker or keeper unit 19 being conventional in these respects.

It is seen from the above that the invention provides an improved lock of considerable simplicity and compactness, featuring a detent unit 21 composed of two coacting members, i.e., the detent 24 and the operator Sti by which the detent is actuated upon manipulation of an outside door handle or push button. The detent 24 is independently movable relative to the operator, under actuation of an inside door handle or the like to unlatch the lock. The lock is locked in latching position in a novel manner by a simple and inexpensively formed locking plate 43, which provides a blocking action on the operator 30 of unit 21 by interposing a side surface across the path of movement of locking shoulder 4t) on member 30; and the arrangement is in all respects foolproof and tamper proof.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved lock in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A door lock for automobiles and the like comprising a support, an abutment carrying latching member pivotally mounted on said support, a two-part detent unit pivotally mounted on said support for movement into and out of position to hold said latching member against pivotal movement, including a detent member and an operating member engaged with one another and mounted on said support for movement relative to one another, said detent member being releasably engageable with an abutment of said latehing member in said holding position, said operating member being movable to act on said detent member to move the latter out of said holding position, a locking plate mounted on said support for movement between locking and unlocking positions, in which locking position of said locking plate it blocks the operating member of said detent unit against movement to move said detent member out of said holding position ofthe latter, and a further operating member mounted on said support for movement in a given direction to directly engage said locking plate, if the latter is in locking position, to move said plate toward unlocking position, and also to directly engage and move said detent member out of said holding position independently of said operating member of said detent unit, said detent member also being engageable with said locking plate, in moving out of said holding position and in the event said plate is in locking position, to move said locking plate toward unlocking position.

2. A door lock for automobiles and the like comprising a support, an abutment carrying latching member pivotally mounted on said support, a two-part detent unit pivotally mounted on said support for movement into and out of position to hold said latching member against pivotal movement, including a detent member and an operating member engaged with one another and mounted on said support for movement relative to one another, said detent member being releasably engageable with an abutment of said latehing member in said holding position, said operating member being movable to act on said detent member to move the latter out oi said holding position, a locking plate mounted on said support for movement between locking and unlocking positions in a plane transverse of the plane of pivotal movement of said detent unit, in which locking position of said locking plate it blocks the operating member of said detent unit against movement to move said detent member out of said holding position of the latter, and a. further operating member movably mounted on said support to directly engage said locking plate, if the latter is in locking position to move said plate toward unlocking position, and also to directly engage and move said detent member out of said holding position independently of said operating member of said detent unit, said detent member also being engageable with said locking plate, in moving out of said holding position and in the event said plate is in locking position, to move said locking plate toward unlocking position.

References @ited in the rile of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 2,706,128 Roethel c Apr. l2, 1955 2,716,569 Roethel Aug. 30, 1955 2,791,458 Marple May 7, 1957 2,793,898 Roethel May 28, 1957 2,811,381 Allen Oct. 29, 1957 UNTTED STATES PATENT @TTTCT CBJHFICAII"E 0F CUR ECHN Patent Noc BEOSUOl November 2Cq 1962 Joseph. Pieklee fied that error appears in the above numbered pat- It is hereby certi the said Letters PaterrftJ should read as ent requiring correction and 'that corrected below.

lines 2 and l2 and. im, The heading To the neme of essigmeeQ for reed e Lisle Wn 1n The grani'.y printed speciiCT-TTTLOITq line 4 "Lisle W Menyimer" each ocourremeY Menzimer Signed and sealed this 4th day of June i963,

(SEAL) Attest:

DAVED L. LADD Commissioner of Patents 4ERNEST W SWIDER Atesting Ufficer 

